Discovered in the Carolina’s, this running and driving one year Galaxie Starliner is a rare treat that offers cool styling and a lot of potential. With a little work this barn find could be a great as is driver for the current $8,000 bid price. Check out this stellar find here on eBay out of Lancaster, Ohio.
The 352 V8 is a smooth operator, although it is currently being fed fuel via a small gas can in the engine compartment. So as you can imagine, this Ford needs some fuel work to be road worthy. It also wouldn’t hurt to double check the brake system while you are at it. One very promising thing to see is that the engine was running during the time of the photos. Also considering this car spent some time parked, the engine compartment seems reasonably clean with no heavy dirt, grime, or rust.
Two tone and not too shabby, the interior is quite complete but shows signs of aging. The dash and steering column are faded to a mat finish, but the door panels and recovered bench look nice. Faded out and possibly dry rotted, the carpet has seen better days. If you are slow to call shot gun, the back seat area is very clean and inviting looking only to be missing the arm rests from either side.
Examining the exterior, the stylish body appears to wear original or at least very old paint. There are a few small areas where rust can be seen, but as a whole this Galaxie appears fairly solid. There are rust blisters at the bottoms of the doors, and there are a few to be found in the rockers as well. The lower front edge of the hood looks to have a few small holes and rust blistering. Rust can be found in the trunk floor, but someone has spray painted the floor, so it is difficult to make out the condition. Also there may be some concern with the floors, but not much information is given. Underbody photos were promised, but the seller has not updated the auction listing to show the condition. Overall the body is quite straight and this Ford could be a great project enjoy as is. Would you take a chance on this one year body style Starliner?
As a kid I didn’t even know this model existed,things were different before this inter web thing. We had plenty of sedans and wagons on the roads but I knew not of these.I think it was the movie Holiday Knights that had a shot of a steel gray Starliner at the very end that did it for me, I had to have one. Almost beyond belief with in a year, in the classifieds of a regional ag publication,less than 100 miles from home was listed a 61 for 300 $ . I was driving truck on road construction projects at the time and sent my bride to make the purchase, sight unseen,the first one I’d ever seen for sale. Yep it was a mess that needed every thing. Three parts cars, complete drive train replacement,back window sourced from a New England salvage yard,every panel except roof and right quarter swapped out,rust repaired,truck shop paint job,color sanded to remove dirt chunks,buffed and polished finally produced my dream car. It’s not show car quality but will hold its own at the car show .
Correction: Hollywood Knights was the movie. Not one dollar was spent on hired labor for this restoration.
Shoot wheatfarmer that’s a nice car.
That is one badass looking Ford. R-Code 427?
Another BF’s assisted memory flashback,,,early 80’s, I was walking through a junkyard in SC Wisc.looking for Diamond T or Packard parts, and a guy was on a big forklift, putting the forks through the side of cars, and stacking them on a flatbed( crushing the roofs) for their final ride to the crusher. As I watched, his next “victim” was a white ’61 Starliner exactly like this. Had no drivetrain, but a perfect body. The guy was just about to skewer the car, I yelled, “WAIT”!! “What”? he yelled. That’s a ’61 Starliner, don’t crush it”!!! He said, “you want it or don’t you”? I said, “well, I don’t, but someone might”. With that, he said, “no time”, and put the forks through the side,,,,I couldn’t watch.
For the record, Starliners were offered in ’60 and ’61, and are highly sought after today.
My first car was a 61 Fairlane 4dr sedan. Sure would have rather had one of these, but the ol’ sedan made memories none the less.
Fine the way it sits. I’ve always been a GM kind of guy, but these old Fords showing up here really ring my bell.
In high school, a good friend had a 1961 Fairlane 500 two door sedan with a 430 cu. in. Mercury engine and a 3 speed on the column. That was one fast car. With the open rear axle, the right rear tire never had a chance of lasting any length of time. I’ve often wondered what it could have done with a good positive traction third member.
The roof line on this Starliner just makes the whole car from every angle.
Something about this car that I really like. Would love to do a restoration on it as it deserves it. Honestly though, if the price was a bit lower, I’d clean it up keep it running smooth and decal it to a period NASCAR clone. It already has the wheels and tires. That would be so cool.
Nasty cars… just plain nasty. I really miss the “four speed wars” from back then at the strip. Back when a normally out-of-pocket racer could go against the big factory boys in a car like this one. There were some really bad 390s and 406s at our strip. 409s and 413s would give the Ford boys fits, but not always.
Don’t know where your dragstrip was located, but was the same “wars” in Concord, NC. From the time the 1960 Chryslers, Fords and Chevys were delivered to the dealerships, local drag racers were in line for the first ones. Some dealers would give the car and factory performance parts just for the advertisement. I followed this thru the 1963 until more pressing things came around.
The Super Stock class (Pro Stock wasn’t formed yet) was the top class for factory-.production cars.
Local names like Jake King, Richard Broome and Tom Farrell were the top dogs in the area with weekly competitions. Occasionally a big name like Ronnie Sox would show up and humble the locals.
The dragstrip, in the name of progress, became a housing development. The actual strip was relegated to the, exceptionally wide, main street.
I’ll bet some 409 internal parts could still be found in the area with a metal-detector.
Shuffletown Dragstrip, Charlotte, NC
Once the home of screaming meamies, now a park in the name of progress. I’m a 60s Olds guys but I’d scoop a Starliner up in a skinny minute.
MoKan near Asbury, Mo., still exists. Sorta’ like a smaller Cordova. Garlits was the first to go 200 on this lil’ strip. SWC, Flyin’ Weibes, Benny Osborn, and a little Pontiac Tempest 4 banger dragster owned and driven by Roger Adams caused the exitement.
Ford Starliners were also built in 1960. The 1960 version was much more attractive.
Are you serious?
You think the 1960 Ford is more attractive than the 1961?
Depends on the day of the week for me. But I wouldn’t kick either one out of the garage.
As do I :)
Yes.
I agree…The 1960 is my favorite, in any model/configuration. I have a huge collection of die casts, literature, factory promo’s and scale models that I have built along with a few untouched originals still in the box.
Every time I see one of these (which I haven’t in years) I think Nascar. IIRC these were the bodies used back in the day for the track
Hope it finds it’s way back onto the highway.
I look at this and all I think is street driven NASCAR clone.
Love the timely touch of the trim at the edges of the roof painted to go with the interior. Also the missing rear armrests are on the package shelf.
Thanks Grant,every one else for the likes,makes all the hours put into this project worth it. Off on a mission this afternoon to look at another life long bucket list car,73 Montego fast back. Will post pictures if we have a positive out come.
Always been a Chevy guy but I would love to make a nostalgia dragstrip car out of this. Great styling from the Ford designers!
I love the styling of the cars from this era. This car would look beautiful in that Ford red that they used back then. I would love to have this car. The ebay listing states that it is a 390, but I can’t remember if Ford used the 390 emblem on the fender in ’61 or not.
A 390 car would be awesome, but even the 352 would be fun. I’ve got a spare 428 that would fit right in. I’ve got to stop thinking about it.
Bob
I’m a Chevy guy. That said, my friend traded a 63 Galaxie 500 I wish I had the cash to buy
Early 60’s Galaxies were some of the best looking full size Ford’s ever designed, but this Starliner has got to be the best of the breed. Make a period correct hot rod/street machine out of it to draw the most attention at the local car shows. Gotta have more than a 352 to be a real stormer though.
Nicely done, KSwheatfarmer.
There was a listing here on BF a couple of years ago for a slant deck car-hauler. Pictured on the truck was a Starliner, and boy, was it beautiful!
Took a while, but I found it! A 1960. Feast your eyes…..
https://barnfinds.com/barn-find-emergency-truck-1958-ford-coe/
Great lines,and the grille is one of Ford’s best!
My brother bought one of these new and only one problem. There was a resonance from the engine that ran thru the body and caused the driver’s vent window to explode. Not the explosive performance you expect………..
Ended: May 15, 2018 , 7:45PM
Winning bid:US $8,000.00
[ 23 bids ]
This was my first new car. Mine was red with a white top and black and white interior. I paid $2,900 for it right off the showroom floor.
I traded it in for a Dodge van for my band in 1968. I sure wish I had it back.